Dear Dr. Jen,
I like using facial scrubs on my facial wash but I heard it can be too harsh for my skin. What's the real deal on facial scrubs?
Melanie
Dear Melanie,
Facial scrubs are used to exfoliate the dead skin layer. This can give you a nice glowing complexion. It can, however, be irritating if used too often or the wrong kind of facial beads in the scrub are used. Once a week gentle scrubbing or once every two weeks for sensitive skin should be enough. The facial beads that are round shaped and not too sharply polygonal are also gentler on the skin.
If you have the type of skin that gets bad reactions to scrubs, there are other ways to exfoliate. You can do light chemical glycolic acid peels or diamond peels.
Go easy on the scrub and you can maintain a bright, clean skin.
Dear Dr. Jen,
I work night shifts and I wear make-up to work. When I get home, sometimes I'm too tired to remove my make-up and just drop dead to my bed and sleep. How bad is sleeping with make-up on and what is the danger in doing this?
Ting
Dear Ting,
Infrequently sleeping with your make up on is not bad. If you do it on an almost daily basis, then your foundation, blush and powder can end up clogging your pores and eventually give you plenty of whiteheads, or worse, pimples.
To safeguard from forming whiteheads and pimples, a good investment is to purchase make-up that are labeled "non-comedogenic". Non-comedogenic make-up does not clog pores and should be the safest kind of make-up to sleep in.
I suggest you keep a pack of wipes by your bedside. There are a number of make-up remover facial towelettes, or even the ordinary kind of baby wipes that are non-alcohol based available everywhere. If in the event you find yourself plopping down in bed from work, you can easily grab a sheet of wipe and just clean off your make up with it.
If you have any questions or concerns please text 0922 845 5556 or email askskinrepublic@gmail.com.
Dr Tan is a diplomate of Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). She is affiliated with Perpetual Succour Hospital. For other information on PDS, check http://www.pds.org.ph/.